Last week, the Australian Government announced
that Darwin’s Smart Technology Project and Perth’s Smart City
projects have received AU$5 million and AU$6 million respectively
in Round One of their inaugural Smart
Cities and Suburbs Program. These are among 52 successful projects
receiving AU$28.5million in the first round.
On November 14 2017, Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation,
the Hon Angus Taylor MP, together with Luke Howarth MP, Federal Member for
Petrie and Cr Julie Greer from Moreton Bay Regional Council announced
that Moreton Bay Regional Council will improve parking in North Lakes, thanks
to a AU$450,000 grant under the first round of the Australian Government’s
Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.
Local streets will be upgraded to include digital street signage to tell
drivers how many free carparks are available on each street.

A smart phone app is also being developed to show a virtual
map of free and occupied spaces to help give drivers real time information.
Moreton Bay Regional Council will match the Australian Government’s AU$450,000
contribution to see the project become a reality.

Councillor Greer said the first major step in the pilot project
would be to call for tenders for the design, installation and operation of the
system, and to work closely with local businesses, the school and community to
evaluate the effectiveness of the trial.

The Moreton Bay Regional Council anticipates the project
will be completed by March 2019.

Geelong has also been awarded a AU$415,000 Australian
Government technology grant to ‘switch on’ the city, according to a
media release by Assistant Minister for Cities and Digital Transformation,
the Hon. Angus Taylor MP yesterday. Geelong’s Smart Technology Project has been
announced as one of 52 successful projects totalling AU$28.5million under Round
One of the Australian Government’s inaugural Smart Cities and Suburbs Program.

Under the Program, funding will flow to communities across
Australia, with 40% of successful projects located in regional areas.

The City of Greater Geelong will partner with the Federal
Government and private businesses to install ‘smart street furniture’, which
will provide free high speed wifi across the city, LED street lights with the
capacity to boost brightness to reduce street crime, parking sensors to
indicate parking availability, air and water quality sensors, as well as
touchscreens and a public address system.

In addition to the Australian Government’s AU$415,000
contribution, the City of Greater Geelong and private partners have jointly
contributed AU$518,000 to see the project become a reality.

Similarly, it was announced
today that Macquarie University and the City of Ryde Council have been awarded
a AU$499,000 technology grant to reduce heavy traffic congestion and improve connectivity
at Macquarie Park.

Under the project, a 3D data atlas of real-time and
historical transport data will be developed, to significantly improve traffic
flow.

In addition to the Australian Government’s AU$499,000
contribution, Macquarie University and the Council of the City of Ryde will
each provide AU$250,000 in co-funding to see the project become a reality.

Round Two of the AU$50 million Smart Cities and Suburbs Program
is expected to open in the first half of 2018.

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